Shaping Little Minds

Boundaries set the foundation for balance in your teaching career. Boundaries help to create balance between your work as a teacher and your personal life.  In this episode, I give you different ways to start setting boundaries so that you start to enjoy your life outside of teaching.

I dive into:
- Morning routines; why that in and of itself is setting a boundary, what my morning routine looks like, and the importance of a morning routine.
- My "work stays at work" mentality. How beneficial it is to only work in your contracted hours.
- Having a strong identity outside of the classroom

Not only that, I have a special surprise for you. I  created a free resource for you called Boundaries to Confidence.  Click the link below to download your copy today!

Boundaries to Confidence Guide: https://shapinglittleminds.mykajabi.com/offers/yFoQtYee
Work 1:1 with Adva: https://calendly.com/newteachercoaching/confidentece
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/shapinglittlemindspodcast

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Have you ever thought about incorporating the practice of mindfulness into your classroom or looking for new ways to continue bringing mindfulness into your classroom? 

Look no further!! In this episode, I got to speak to one of my best friends, Adina about mindfulness in the classroom. Adina is not only one of my best friends but an amazing educator. She brings mindfulness into her classroom each year and I thought I could bring her on to have her share some of her insight. 

In this episode, we cover:

• Definition of mindfulness
• Importance of mindfulness
• Mindfulness activities in the classroom
• Book recommendations about mindfulness
• Resources to help you incorporate mindfulness inside the classroom

I’d love to hear from you… what is one thing you are taking away with you and implementing it into your classroom? Send me a message on Instagram (@shapinglittlemindspodcast) and I’ll be sure to share it with Adina as well.

Connect with Adina: https://www.instagram.com/readwithpride
Email Adina: [email protected]
Follow: http://www.instagram.com/shapinglittlemindspodcast
Book Your Free Call for The Confident ECE: https://calendly.com/newteachercoaching/confidentece

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Today I have a very special guest on the podcast! Kathleen Gomes is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with 10 years experience working in full day kindergarten and more recently, she is employed as an ERW, caring for children with diverse needs. In today’s episode, we talk about teacher self- care; what self-care is, why it’s important, and how you can incorporate it into your daily routine. 

If you enjoyed listening to this episode and want to learn more, I have a brand new program, called The Confident ECE, for new or struggling early childhood teachers. This is a program helps teachers to feel confident and self-sufficient inside the classroom. Interested in learning more? I invite you to book a free 60 minute call where I can help you to identify who you are as a teacher and who you want to be outside of that. We get to start diving into making teaching a part of your life rather than letting it consume you.

Connect with Kathleen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleengomesconsulting
Connect with Kathleen on her website: https://www.kathleengomesconsulting.com
Apply to work with Adva: https://calendly.com/newteachercoaching/confidentece

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Teaching has never been easy and definitely isn’t getting easier while being in a pandemic for the last 2.5 years. Without classroom support, teaching can feel even more difficult and can end up consuming your life. Teaching becomes everything you are rather than just a part of who you are.  

In this episode, Adva explains her new program, The Confident ECE, that provides early childhood teachers with continued learning, tools to help you implement the learning and added support inside the classroom. Adva shares how this program will change the game for you if you're a new teacher or are struggling inside the classroom and therefore are consumed by your work. The Confident ECE will help early childhood teachers go from feeling unsupported, stressed out and overwhelmed to feeling confident and self-sufficient inside the classroom while showing up for yourself every single day.

Connect with Adva:

Instagram: @shapinglittlemindspodcast
Apply to work with Adva: The Confident ECE

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 I never experienced Sunday Scaries on this level until I got hired for this summers camp job. But I learned a lot from my experience which is why I’m here sharing this with you; it’s why I launched this podcast in the first place. I wanted to share my knowledge and experiences with teachers. I’m going to list what I’ve learned from my experiences.  Please note that I don’t claim to be an expert and am just sharing what worked for me.

 I want you to know that even with the tools I'm giving you in today's episode, you will have days that feel harder than others. That is completely normal and I hope you learn to give yourself the grace that you need in those moments. It’s not easy but it is worth it in the end.

What tools do you have in your back pocket to help navigate Sunday Scaries? I want to hear from you! Send me a DM on Instagram and let me know.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shapinglittlemindspodcast

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I put together a list of 5 important things to focus on during those first days of school:

1. Don’t stress about your lesson plans being perfect
2. Focus on building relationships with your students
3. Review Expectations, Rules & Routines
4. Set boundaries from the very beginning
5. Enforce Rules

Now I have a question for you… What else do you focus on in the first days of school? I’d love to hear from you! Send me a message on Instagram @shapinglittlemindspodcast and I’ll share to my feed so that other teachers can learn from you too!

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shapinglittlemindspodcast

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Art has unfortunately become a non-essential activity in schools. Everything is much more academically focused. Today, I have Jalilah on the podcast who can dive into the importance of art, teach you how to implement quality and authentic art lessons into the classroom, and ways to keep your art center exciting and autonomous. 

What we'll cover:

• Why art is such an important part of early childhood
• What authentic art lessons are and how to incorporate them into your classroom
• How to keep your art center exciting throughout the year
• Resources to help with art development

Art Resource: https://www.jalilahsartstudio.com
Connect with Jalilah: https://www.instagram.com/jalilahsartstudio/
Follow: http://www.instagram.com/shapinglittlemindspodcast

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When we make the decision to be a teacher, we are usually there for the kids. We love kids, we love to watch them grow; we’re not usually there because the money is good. If you’ve been around, you know that as teachers we truly don’t get paid enough for the work we do. In today’s episode, we’ll cover:

• Definition of advocacy and the importance of being an advocate
• 3 ways you can advocate for your students
• 3 ways you can advocate for yourself, as the teacher

There are so many ways you can both advocate for your students and yourself as an early childhood teacher. I’d love to know… what will you do first? What action will you take to become an advocate for yourself or your students? Send me a message on Instagram @shapinglittlemindspodcast; I’d love to hear from you!

Follow: http://www.instagram.com/shapinglittlemindspodcast
Episode #55: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shaping-little-minds/id1549702974

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And... WE'RE BACK!!

Today’s episode is about professional development in early childhood. We talk about: 

• the different ways you, as the teacher, can grab opportunities to continue to learn, 
• what’s missing when it comes PD in early childhood, 
• What teachers are struggling with right now that could change with access to the appropriate professional development program
• The components of professional development to make it effective, and
• Accessibility to PD 

Help me welcome another amazing guest to this episode; Marcia! She has been in the early childhood field for many years. She knows her stuff and is ready to share it with the world. I can’t wait for you to meet her in today’s episode! 

Connect with Marcia:
Instagram: @marcianicole_

Connect with Adva:
Instagram: @shapinglittlemindspodcast

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Have you ever struggled with finding your identity outside of teaching? In the recent years, I have found that I bury myself in work rather than enjoying the time I spend on my own, with friends, with family, etc.  I went from full-time employee to being my own boss and never took the time to really find out who I am outside of work; what really makes me happy.  I created a life that revolved around work. I have done work to be more aware of my own thoughts,  more aware of how I use social media, more aware of what I enjoy outside of teaching and this business. I learned that in order to really succeed in anything you do, you need to be confident in who you are at the core. 

• Find a supportive community
• Delete social media off your phone & only use intentionally
• Get back to passions you thought were in the past

I hope this episode helps you to continue to discover who you are outside of teaching and reminds you that teaching isn't the only important part of your life. You are so much more than just a teacher. 

Follow: http://www.instagram.com/shapinglittlemindspodcast

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